Read the books for the first time between "FotR" and "TTT" movies showing in theaters. I think it was summer and I had NOTHING to do so I pretty much read and read for five days. Read "The Hobbit" around the same time.

Favorite Tolkien character:

Pippin, Kili and Fili, Bofur, Ori and Shadowfax (What? The horse is badass)